Linear motor racing game



y 1953 E. MAGGI LINEAR MOTOR RACING GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1948 INVENTOR frnes za Mayyz.

ATTORNEY III WITNESSES:

Patented May 12, 1953 LINEAR MOTOR RACING GAME Ernesto Maggi, Bergamo, Italy Application April 14, 1948, Serial No. 20,921 In Italy May 14, 1947 19 Claims.

My invention relates to linear-motor game-devices, involving improvements in the art of linear motors and in the art of game-devices.

An object of my invention is to provide a racing-game in which each operator may substantially instantaneously control his racing-car by means of an on-or-off control-device which is associated with a chance-means which will cause an on-position of the control-device either to accelerate or retard his car. A timing-means is provided for limiting the time during which any car can be accelerated beyond its normal operating-speed, so that the game consists in each operator trying to win the race by making the best use of the control-device at his disposal, under these circumstances.

A further object of my invention is to provide a game-device of the class just described, in which a plurality of racing-cars constitute the moving elements of a plurality of linear mo- 2' tors, there being a separate linear-motor drive for each car, and a separate linear-motor control, under the chance-dominated control of a separate operator for each car.

A further object is to provide an improved stationary primary member fora linear motor, having angle-irons acting as lateral pole-face extensions.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a chance-responsive control-means, for g selecting either one of two eventualities, by means of two relay-circuits, each receiving a succession of impulses, the impulses alternating with each other, so that, when the operator attempts to make a choice between the two eventualities, his choice depends upon which relaycircuit happens to have a voltage-impulse in it at the moment when the operator completes the circuit.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a racing-game of the chance-dominated linear-motor type, in which there is an inductively energized electric light in each car, so that the brilliance of the light will afford a visual indication of the amount of energy which is operative on each car at each instant. As a part of this object of the invention, I provide each car with a flat armature-plate having one or more inwardly bent portions, and windingmeans carried by said one or more inwardly bent portions for constituting a source of induced 4 voltage within the car.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the apparatus, combinations, systems, circuits, parts and methods of design and operation, hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a fragmentary plan-view of a portion of a twoetrack racing-game embodying my invention, showing one of the racing-cars in position in its raceway, with the top part of the car broken away to show a horizontal sectional view on the section-plane I-I in Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the section-plane 11-11 in Fig. l, V

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the section-plane III--III in Fig. 1,

Fig.4 is a fragmentary viewsimilar to Fig. 3, showing a modification,

Fig. 5 is an across-the-line diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus illustrative of the electrical control part of my invention, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a racing -car, illustrating the means for energizing an electric light in the car.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I provide a racing-game in which there are a plurality of raceways I and 2. In the illustrative form of embodiment of my invention, a rigid channeled race-track structure is provided having a flat base 3 and a plurality of vertical ribs 4, 5 and 6 upstanding therefrom, with two thin insulating track-floor plates I and 8 supported, at an intermediate level, between the pairs of adjacent vertical ribs 4, 5 and 5, 6, so that the upwardly projecting portions of the ribs 4, 5 and 6, above the track-floors 1 and 8,'constitute lateral guides for defining a separate raceway for each racing-car.

There is a separate racing-car for each of the plurality of raceways l and 2. As these cars are all alike, a description of one will suflice for all. As shown, each car is composed of a light car-body H] which is supported on wheels H and I2, the front wheels [2 being preferably pivoted on a steering-bar l3 pivoted at M. The rear end of the steering-bar I3 is biased to its normal straight-forward position by means of a spring I5, while the front end of the steering-bar I3 is forked at is and provided with two small lateral pilot-wheels H which engage the respective sides of the raceway in which the car is located, to steer the car around the curves of the track. The rear end of the car In is also preferably provided with two laterally directed wheels 8 for preventing any portion of the car from rubbing against the sidewalls of its racewayr In the preferred form of embodiment of my invention, as illustrated, each racing-car 10 constitutes the movable element of a separate linearmotor assembly. Each linear-motor assembly has a stator-element 20 which is disposed immediately underneath the track-floor I or 8 for its particular raceway. Each stator-element comprises an elongated magnetizable member 2| which is separated from its associated racing-car H] by an airgap 22 within which the track-floor l or 3 is located. The magnetizable member 2| comprises at least one, and preferably two, flanged members such as angle-irons 23, with one of their flange-sides 24 disposed flat up against the associated track-floor or 8, and with their other flange or flanges extending downwardly, in back-to-back. relation if there are two angleirons 23,, as shown. These two angle-irons 23 may constitute all of the magnetizable member 2| of the stator-element 20, as shown in Fig. 4, but preferably, as shown in Fig. 3,'the magnetizable member 2| also includes a stack of magnetizable laminations 26 which lie between the downwardly extending vertical flanges 25 of the two angle-irons 23. In either event, the two horizontal flanges 24 of these angle-irons, which are the airgap-bordering sides of the magnetizable member 2|, constitute lateral pole-face extensions for the centrally disposed vertical flanges 25 of the two angle-irons 23, in Fig. 4, or for these two vertical flanges 25 and the airgapbordering edges 21 of the stack of laminations 26, in the form shown in Fig. 3.

The magnetizable member 2| of the stator element 20 has its top wall-portion, or airgapside, notched or slotted at regular intervals, as shown at 30, and a polyphase winding 3| is associatedwith said notches or slots 30. Byway of illustration, I have shown the polyphase winding 3| as 'a three-phase winding; the successive phases of which are letteredA, B and C, 'and'the successive coils of which are distinguished by numerals following the letter-designation of the phase, such as the coils Al; A2, A3 An, for phase A. These coils are providedin successive slots or notches 30, and preferably; according to my invention, each c'oil lies in a plane which is transverse to the directionof elongation of the elongated flanged magnetizable element 2 I, after the manner of a Gramme-ring winding, with the distinction, however, that Gramme-ring windings have not been provided, he'retoforeyona magnetizable core havingprojecting side-fianges-24 to provide lateral pole-face extensions for the magnetizable core.

I have found that this'particular disposition and arrangement of the winding 3| on the magnetizable member 2| is particularly necessary and desirable in a racing-game device inwhich there are a plurality of racing-tracks disposed close together, alongside 'of each other, so that there is not very much lateral room for the wind-- ings 3|. If the winding-coils had been disposed horizontally, with one coil-side in one slot 30, and another coil-side in another slot 30, further along the magnetizable member 2|, as in ordinary modern construction, the superposed layers,

of the end-winding portions of the coils would require too much lateral width; alongside of the longitudinally extending magnetizable member 2|, to make it possible for the. several raceways and 2 to be disposed up close'alongside of each other; Thus, the p'rovision'iof the transverse, or Gramme-ring, type of coils provides a distinct advantage in reducing the lateral space occupied by the winding, on either side of the magnetizable element 2 I, and the provision df'the laterally directed pole-face flanges 24 still further reduces the lateral space-requirements of the winding, because thelatera-l sides 'of the winding lie be-' neath or back of the horizo'ntal flanges 24, so that the winding does not require any extra lateral width, over and above the'transve'rse width of the airgap 22. My novel flanged Gramme-ring structure also results in a much shorter length of winding-wire. I i

With the illustrated form of construction of thepolyphase winding 3| and the flanged elonated magnetizable member 2|, the successive coils, such as Al, A2, etc., of the same phase, may be serially connected together by means of a single conductor 32 whichcanbe run along either side of the stator-element 20.

The stator-element 20, as just described. thus constitutes a fiat or developed primary member of a polyphase induction motor, in which a travelling magnetic wave is established, as is inherent in linear-motor constructions.

Each racing-car l0 constitutes the secondary member, or movable element, of its own linearmotor assembly. The bottom of each car is flat, and is disposed with only a small clearance above the track-floor l or 8 as the case may be, so as to provide the moving-element terminal of the airgap 22-of the linear-motor. The bottom or airgap-side of each' car I0 includes a flat conducting plate 35, which is surmounted by a flat magnetizable armature-plate 36, for completing the magnetic circuit of the linear-motor, as will be obvious, while the conducting bottom-plate 35 acts as an eddy-current member, or short-circuited induction-member; in which currents are induced by thetravelling magnetic field of the stator-element.

Any suitable polyphase source may be used, having any desirednumber of phases. By way of illustration, I have shown, in Fig. 5, a splitphase three-phase system in which a three-phase line A, B, C is energized from taps 4|, 42 and 43 of an autotransformerfl, through a capacitor 45, a resistor.46 and an inductor 47, respectively. The autotransformer 44 is energized, through a switch 48; from' asingle-phase line Ll, L2, through an adjustable primary-tap 49.

The control for my linear motors requires a double-circuit electric-supply means for making available two sets .of intermittent voltage-impulses, which are provided in two relay-buses 5! and 52. While any one of several means might be used for energizing these relay-buses 5| and 52, I have chosen to illustrate a simplemeans whereby two rectiflers 53 and 54, connected in opposite polarities, are used to energize these relay-buses5l and 52 from'a suitable singlephase source, such as any one of the phases, say phase B, of the polyphase supply A, B, C. In this manner, the relay-bus 5| is provided with a succession of positive .half-wave voltage-impulses. whereas the relay-bus 52 is provided with a series of negative half-wave voltage-impulses, in such manner thatthe voltage-impulses in one relaybus occur during moments when there are substantially no; voltage-impulses impressed upon the other relay bus. j v

In Fig. 5; a common return-circuit or neutralbus N is provided for'both the polyphase linearmotor' currents and the' intermittent controlcircuit currents; The several buses N,' 52, 5|, A, B and C are common to all of the linear-motor assemblies, but each assembly has its own individual control-equipment and its own individual polyphase energizing-connections. As the-equip ment and" connectionsfor each of the linearmotor devices are identical, a description of one will suffice for all, and primes will be used to distinguish the second equipment.

While I have shown" only two linear-motor equipments and controls, and -only two raceways and 2, it will be understood that any desired number of raceways may be provided, with an individual equipment for each. I

- As shown inFig.5, the control for each linearmotor assembly consists of "a pushbutton 55, which is connected between the neutral bus N and a conductor 56. Each controleequipment also includes a forward relay F, a reverse relay R and; a: timing: relay T. In each case, the: operating coil of the relay is designated by a let-- ter corresponding to the rei'ay designation, while the several contact-members. which are carried by these relays are distinguished by the relayletter, followed by a distinguishing number, and the mechanical interconnection between each relay-coil and its associated contacts is also indicated by means of arrows or broken lines, which are? intended as a conventional symbol: for indicating these mechanical connections between the rel-ay parts,

From. the conductor 56' in Fig. 5, a relay-circuit continues, through a. back-contact T51 of the timer T, to the operating or control-coil F of. the forward-relay F, and thence to a conductor 58-. The circuit continues from the conductor 58-, through a back-contact 3359 of the reverse relay R, to the relay-bus 52.

A second circuit is also provided, from the conductor 56, through the operating or control-coil T of the timing relay T, and thence to a conductor 60, which is connected to the conductor 58 through two parallel circles, on containing a make-contact PM of the forward relay F, and the other containing a make-contact T62 of the timer T.

A third relay-circuit is provided from the conduct'or 56, including the operating or control coil R at the reversing. relay R, and thence to a con-- ductor 62, which connects to the back-contact F62 of the forward relay F, and thence to the relay-bus 5 I The polyphase linear-motor connections are shown, in Fig. 5, ascomprising three separate circuits for the three different phases. The phase-A connections start with the neutral bus N, and include a resistor 63 which is shunted by f the make-contact PM of the forward relay F. The resistor 53 energizes the phase-1i windingcoils An to Al from which the circuit continues, through a conductor 65'. The conductor 65 is normally connected to the phase-A supply-bus A by means of a back-contact R65 of the reversing relay R, but it may also be connected tothe phase-C bus C by means of a make-contact R61: of the reversing relay R. The phase-C circt to-f the linear motor starts with a resistor 5d wh-i h is shunted by a make-contact Fee of the forward r relay 1'". The resistor 68 completes a circuit from the neutral bus N- tothe coils (In to G! of the motor, and thence to a conductor it. The con-- ductor it is normally cormectedv to the phase- 2 bus C through the back-contact R'i-i of the reversing relay R, but it maybe connected to the phase-A bus A through a make-contact R12 of the reversing relay it. The phase-B coils En to Bl of the linear motor are directly connected be tween the neutral bus and the phaseB bus 23 of the polyphas'e supply, as shown in Fig. 5.

In the operation of my device, the race is started by the closure of the starting-switch- 4%, which energizes the entire equipment. At the start, each linear motor is provided with a medcrate polyphase energization in the forward phase-sequence, so that all of the racing-cars ID are started in the forward direction, so as to run at a moderate speed, or with amoderate driving-force applied thereto, the degree of ener gization being limited the two resistors 83" and 6B in the A-phase and C-phase, respectively, of the motor. To win the race, each operator must manipulate his owncontrol pushbutton 55',

6 so as to: try to accelerate his racing-car as. much as: possible, but when the operator depresses his control-button 55,v he does not know whether a positive voltage-impulse will be present in the relay-bus" 51,. or whether a negative voltage-impulse will. be. resent in the relay-bus 5 2, at the first instant of contact of the pushbutton 55. It

is thusv a matter of chance, whether the reverse" relay R will pick up, in response to the positive impulse bus 5|, or whether the: forward relay F will pick up, in response to the negative-impulse bus 52.

If the reversing relay R; picks up, it reverses the phase-sequence of the polyphase motor-energizertion, at the reversing contacts R66, R61 and RT l R12, thus developing a motor-driving force tending to drive the racing-car in. the backward direction. As soon as the car commences to retard, as a result of the energization of the reversing relay R, the operator, of course, releases the pushb'utton 55 as soon as he can, after which the reversing: relay R drops out and restores the original connections.

If, however, the forward relay F picks up, its contacts F64 and. F69 cut out the resistors 63 and 68, thus increasing. the amount of voltage which is effectively applied to the polyphase windings of the linear motor, Since a phasesplitting: means is utilized to obtain a polyphase source, the phase-differences between the three polyphase phases A, B and C is dependent somewhat upon the amount of load-impedance which is connected to the several phases A, B and C, and hence the cutting out of the resistors 53 and 68 will also have some phase-shifting sheet, in addition. to increasing the effective voltage which is applied to the motor. The phase-splitter design is preferably such that the best approach to a symmetrical three-phase system is obtained during the operating-conditions when the resistors 63 and 68 of one or more of the linear-motor combinations are cut out, so that the picking up of the-forward relay F not only increases the effective motor-voltage, but which also makes the power-supply to the motor more nearly a balanced three-phase supply, so that both effects contribute to cause a stronger forward-driving force to be applied to the associated racing-car If it were possible to do so, an operator who once suceeded in energizing the forward-relay F of his control-apparatuswould thereaiterkeep his pushbutton 55 depressed for the rest of the race, so that the outcome of the race would not depend upon the skill or judgment of the operator. To prevent this, and to make an interesting game, I have provided a timing relay T which is energized only whenever the forward-relay F is energized, or rather, which is energized in response to the energization of the forward relay F, because the forward relay F picks up its make contact F6! in the energizing-circuit of the timing relay T. The timing relay T then picks up, within a suitable; small time, and its back-contact T51 deenergizes the forward relay F, causing the latter to start to drop out. At the same time, the timing relay closes an auxiliary holding-circuit T62 for maintaining the energization of the timing relay T after the opening of the contact F6! of the forward relay. When the forward relay F drops out, it opens its contacts F54 and F69, which thus r'einsert the resistances 63 and 68 in the motor-circuits, thus restoring the initial operating-conditions. The timer relay T re-mains energized, however, as long as the operator keeps his'pushbutton '55 depressed, so that the operator is forced to release the'pushbutton 55,"and to try over again, for a favorable chance at energizing the forward-relay F, while being very quick to release the reversing relay R, if he chances to energize that relay, in order to win the race. The outcome of the race is thus dependent upon the quickness and skill and good judgment of the several operators.

The forward and reverse relays F and R are quickly acting or substantially instantaneouspickup relays, which may pick up within 0.003 second. The dropout-times of these relays are somewhat longer, so that the time during which either relay remains energized can never be substantially instantaneous, but must have some small finite duration. In addition, the time during which the forward relay F remains energized is dependent not only on the dropout-time of the forward relay, but also on the time required for the timing relay T to pick up and open its back-contact T51. This pickup-time of the timing relay T may be anything which may be required, in any particular game-device. In one form of game-device which I have built, the accelerating force which operates on the light racing-car I is very great, when the forward relay is energized, so that an extremely short period of time will give that racing car a strong lead over the competitive cars, so that the timing-relay T which I have used in that particular equipment was a high-speed instantaneous relay similar to the forward and reverse relays F and R, although I am not limited, of course, to this particular design of the timing means.

Some means should be provided, for causing only one of the forward and reverse relays F and R to pick up at any one time, so that both will not beenergized at once. One means for bringing about this result is shown in the drawing, wherein a very short pickup-time is provided for each of the relays F and R, and either relay, when it picks up, will quickly de-energize the relay-circuit of the other relay, through the back-contacts F62 and R59, respectively.

An interesting item of detail is provided, as shown in Fig. 6, by placing a small electric light 80 on each car, and energizing the same by an induced-voltage means within the car. A very convenient form of embodiment for this inducedvoltage means, within the car, is shown in Fig. 6 wherein the flat armature-plate 36 is provided with one or more portions which are bent inwardly, toward the inside of the car, as shown at 8! and winding-means 82 are carried by these one or more inwardly bent portions 8 I, for constituting the induced-voltage means for energizing the light 80, as shown in Fig. 6. The brilliance of the light so depends upon the nature of energization of the linear-motor driving-means for that car, being different according to whether the car has its normal, moderately powered, forward-drive energization, without either of the relays F or R in play, or whether the motor has increased-voltage energization as a result of an actuation of the forward relay F, or whether the motor has a reverse-phase-sequence energization as a result of an operation of the reversing relaly R. The brilliance of the light 80 thus affords each operator with a visual indication of the performance of his car, thus adding increased interest, as well as a spectacular display, to the game-device.

While I have illustrated my invention in a preferred formof embodiment, with very little in the way of concrete suggestions as to alternative constructions or procedures, I wish it to be understood that I am not limited to my specific illustrations, and I desire that the appended claims shall be accorded the broadest interpretation consistent with their language.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a game-device, a movable element which is to be moved, means for normally moving said movable element in a predetermined manner, accelerating means for temporarily causing said movable element to move at an accelerated speed, decelerating means for causing said movable element to move at a reduced speed, an on-or-off two-position switching means under the substantially instantaneous control of an operator, chance-means for causing the on-condition of said switching-means to actuate either the accelerating means or the decelerating means, and 'timing'means for limiting the time to any one operating-period of the accelerating means to a small part of the total time during which said movable element is to be moved.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, characterized by said chance-means comprising two relay-circuits, double-circuit electric-supply means for making available two sets of intermittent voltage-impulses for the respective relaycircuits, one set for each relay-circuit, in such manner that the voltage-impulses of one set occur during moments when there are substantially no voltage-impulses in the other set, said switching-means, in its on-condition, simultaneously connecting both of said relay-circuits to said double-circuit electric-supply means, said accelerating means and said decelerating means including relay-devices having their respective control-means in the respective relay-circuits.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, characterized by said chance-means comprising two relay-circuits, double-circuit electric-supply means for making available two sets of intermittent voltage-impulses for the respective relaycircuits, one set for each relay-circuit, in such manner that the voltage-impulses of one set occur during moments when there are substantially no voltage-impulses in the other set, said switching-means, in its on-condition, simultaneously connecting both of said relay-circuits to said double-circuit electric-supply means, said accelerating means and said decelerating means including relay-devices having their respective control-means in the respective relay-circuits, and each relay-device having a quickly operated circuit-breaking means in the other relay-circuit.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, characterized by said chance-means comprising two relay-circuits, double-circuit electric-supply means for making available two sets of intermittent voltage-impulses for the respective relaycircuits, one set for each relay-circuit, in such manner that the voltage-impulses of one set occur during moments when there are substantially no voltage-impulses in the other set, said switching-means, in its on-condition, simultaneously connecting both of said relay-circuits to said double-circuit electric-supply means, said accelerating means and said decelerating means including relay-devices having their respective control-means in the respective relay-circuits, said timing-means including a relay-means having its control-means operated only when said acceleratmg means is operated, and having a circuit-controlling means for bringing about a deenergization of the accelerating-mechanism.

.;9 &5. A chance-device tor selectingeither one of 'two eventualities, comprising, in-combination,two reiay-circui-ts, double-circuit electric-supply means for-making available two sets of intermittent voltage-impulses for the respective relaycircuits, one set for each relay-circuit, in such manner that the voltageimpulses of one set occur during moments when there are substantially no voltage-impulses in the other set, a circuitcompleting control-device for simultaneously connecting :both of said relay-circuits to said double-circuit electricesupply means, and a separate relay-device for each of the two eventualities, said relay-devices having their respective control-means in the respective relay-circuits.

-6. A chance-device for selecting either one of two eventualities, comp s in a n, two relay-circuits, double-circuit electric-supply means "for making available two sets of intermittent voltage-impulses for the respective relaycircuits, one set for each relay-circuit, *in such manner that the voltage-impulses of one set occur during-moments whenthere are substantially no voltage-impulses in the other set, a circuitcomple'ting control-device for simultaneously connecting both of said relay-oircuits-to saiddouble-circuit electric-supply means, and a separate relay-device for each of the two eventualities, said relay-devices having their respective control-means in the respective relay-circuits, and each relay-device *having'a quickly opera-ted circuit-breaking means in the other relay-circuit.

7. A chance-device for selecting either one of two :eventualities, comprising, in combination, two relayr-c'ircuits, double-circuit electric-supply means for making available a set of intermittent positive voltage-impulses for one relay-circuit and a set [of negative voltage-impulses for the other relay-circuit, "in such manner-that the voltageeimpulses of one set occur during moments when there are substantially no voltage-impulses in :the other set, a circuit completing control-device for simultaneously connecting "both of said relay-circuits to said double-circuit electric-supply means, and a separate relay-device for each of the "two .eventualities, said relay-devices having their respectiveioontrol means in the respective relay cirouits.

'8. 1A chance-device for selecting either-one of two ,eventualities, oneiof avhich is desired,--and=the other of which is undesired, said chance-device comprising, .in combination, two relay-circuits, double-circuit electric-supply :means ifor making available :two .sets :of intermittent voltage-impulses for the respective relay-circuits, one set for .each relay-circuit, in such manner that -the voltage-impulses of one set occur during moments when there are substantially no voltageimpulses in the other set, a circuit-completing control-device for simultaneously connecting both of said re1ay-circuits to saidsdouble-circuit electric-supply means, a separate relay-device for each of the two eventualitiessaid relay-devices having their respective control-means in the respective relayecircuits anda timing relaymeans having its control ineans operated only when said desired-eventualityrelay-device is operated, andhaving a circuit-rcontrolling means for bringing about a deenei gization of the desired-eventuality relayedevice.

9. A chance-device for selecting either :Qneof twoieventualities, one of whichisdesired-and the other of which is undesired saidchance-device comprising, in combination, a separate relay-device ior each 01 the two eventualities, an on-or- 10. A racing-game, comprising a plurality ofmovableracing-elements, a separate raceway Ior each, asepara-te drive-means and control-means for each of the movable racing-elements, each drive-means and control-means comprising, in combination, normal driving means for normally moving its own movable racing-element ina-predetermined manner, accelerating means-fortemporarily causing said movable elementto move at an accelerated speed, decelerating means for causing said movable element to move at a reducedspeedan on-or-ofi'two-position switching means under the substantially instantaneous control of an operator in charge Of that particular racing-element, chance-means for causing the oil-condition of said switching-means toactuate either the accelerating means or the decelerating means for that racing-element, and timing-means for limiting the time of any one operating-period of the accelerating-means to a small part of the total time during which said movable element is-to be moved. 11. In a-game-deviee,-a movable-element whic is to be desirably moved me forward direction,

forward-drive means forimparting anormal forward moving-force to said movable element, accelerating means for temporarily imparting an increased forward driving-forearm accelerating said 'movable element, reverse-drive meansfor imparting .a reversed driving-force'to said movable ielement, an on-or-off two-position Switchingr-means under the substantially instantaneous control of an operator, chance-means for causing the on-conditien of saidswitching-means to actuate-eitherthe accelerating means or the reverse driv-e :means, and timing-means for limiting-the time-of anyone-operating-period of the accelerating means to a small part of the total time during which said movable element is 1 to be moved. i

112. The invention as defined in claim 10 characterizedby the combination including the normal i driving means, the accelerating means, i and thedeeelerating means for each-movable racingelement comprising a linear motor having a stator-element disposed along the path -to be traversed 'by its own moving racing-element for driving the same, Y said-stator-element comprising an elongated flanged 'magneti'zable element havin .a iiatflange-side which is separated from that partienlar -movab1e racing-element by an ai-rgap, 'the ai1'gap-side of said elongated flanged magnetizable element having notches; and a polyphase winding comprising a plurality of coils disposed in successive notches, eaoh coil lying in aplane tIQJISVGlSBtOjtIle direction of elongation of said elongated magnetizable element, after, the manner sofa Gramm wrine windin a h c n m n insih se on ary mem er ofit own linear-motor.

=1-3sj1heinvention as deiined in claim l1 ,char.-, acterized by the combination includingsaidfon wardzdr v .mean .Sflid a cele ati t i a d said reverse-drive means comprising a linear- 11 motor having a stator-element disposed along the path to be traversed by said movable element for driving the same, said stator-element comprising an elongated flanged magnetizable element having a flat flange-side which is separated from the inovable element by an airgap, the airgapside of said elongated flanged magnetizable element having'notches, and a polyphase winding comprising a plurality of coils disposed in sucoessive notches, each coil lying in a plane transverse to the direction of elongation of said elongated flanged magnetizable element, after the manner of a Gramme-ring-winding, said movable element being the secondary member of the linear-motor.

1 4. A linear-motor comprising a movable element,- and a runway therefor, said linear-motor havingastator-element disposed along the path to be traversed by said movable element for drivingthe same, said stator-element comprising an elongated flanged magnetizable element hav- 113g a fiat fiange-side which is separated from the movable element by an airgap, the airgap-side of said elongated flanged magnetizable element having notches, and a polyphase winding comprising a plurality of coils disposed in successive notches, eac h coil lying in a plane transverse to the direction of elongation of saidelongated flanged-.magnetizable element, after the manner oi Gramme-ring winding, said movable element beingthe secondary member of the linear-motor. invention as defined in claim 14, characterized by said stator-element including a stack ogrma nfitizable laminations lying against a flat flangerside at an angle to the flange-side which borders 1 the airgap, whereby said flange-side which; borders the airgap constitutes a lateral pole-face extension of the airgap-bordering edges oi the laminations.

1 16. {bracing-game, comprising a plurality of movable racing-elements, a separate raceway for eaph,-; a separate linear-motor drive-means for each of the movable racing-elements, each linearmotordrive means having a stator-element disposedalong the'path to be traversed by its own moving racing-element for driving the same, said sta tor element comprising an elongated magnetizable member which is separated from that particular movable racing-element by an airgap, the airgapsideof said elongated magnetizable element having notches, and a polyphase winding com-prisingga'plurality of 00113 disposed inisaid notehesyeach;racing-element being the secondaryzmemb'er of its own linear-motor drive-means,

in combination with a source of polyphase power for-all; of the linear-motor drivemeans, a common starting-means for simultaneously applying moderate 'power, in the forward-driving phase-sequence, toall of the linear-motor drivemeans, and a separate control-means for each of jtheglinear-motor drive-means, each controlm'e a nsfcomprising an on-or-oif control-device under the substantially instantaneous control of an operator for that particular movable racingelement, chance-means for causing the on-condition of each control-device either to apply increased power to the associated linear-motor drive-means in the forward-driving phase-sequence or to reverse the phase-sequence of the power, applied to said linear-motor drive-means, and timing=means for limiting the time during which an operator may prolong any single application of increased power to his linear-motor drive-means.

17. A racing-game, comprising a plurality of 12 movable racing-elements, a separate raceway for each, a separate linear-motor drive-means for each of the movable racing-elements, each linearmotor drive-means having a stator-element disposed along the path to be traversed by its own moving racing-element for driving the same, said stator-element comprising an elongated magnetizable member which is separated from that particular movable racing-element by an airgap, the airgap-side of said elongated magnetizable element having notches, and a polyphase winding comprising a plurality of coils disposed in said notches, each racing-element being the secondary member of its own linear-motor drivemeans, in combination with a source of polyphase power for all linear-motor drive-means, a common starting-means for simultaneously applying moderate power, the forward-driving phasesequence, to all of the linear-motor drive-means, anda separate control-means for each of the linear-motor drive-means, each control-means comprising an on-or-oif control-device under the substantially instantaneous control of an operator for that particular movable racing-element, chance-means for causing the on-condition of each control-device either to apply increased power-to the associated linear-motor drive-means in the forward-driving phase-sequence or to so change; the energization of said linear-motor drive-means as to reduce the speed of the associated movable racing-element, and timingmeans for limiting the time during which an operator may prolong any single application of increased power to his linear-motor drive-means. 18. The invention as defined in claim 17, characterized by each movable racing-element carryin an electric lightand having induced-voltage means for energizing said electric light, whereby the increased brilliance of said light will afford visual evidence of the existence of increasedpower conditions.

19. The invention as defined in claim 17, characterized by each movable racing-element carrying an electric light and having induced-voltage means for energizing said electric light, whereby'the increased brilliance of said light will afford visual'evidence of the'existence of increasedpower conditions, the airgap-side'of eachmovable racing-element including a flat armatureplate having one-or'moreinwardly bent portions, andwinding-means carriedby said one or more inwardly bent portions for constituting said induced voltagemeans.

H ERNESTO MAGGI.

Reference? Cited' in the: file of--this" patent W UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number. QName 1282,165 .Cheever July 31, 1883 .669,433.,. l,Yale. 1 Mar. 5, 1901 859,019 Smith July 2. 1907 1,123,306 Johnson Jan. 5, 1915 1,437,549 Putnam Dec. 5, 1922 1,180,081,... Keiser Oct. 28, 1930 l,91,672,. Schneider et al. Nov. 20, 1934 2,180,448 Wil1iams Nov. 21, 1939 2,188,619 Bernhardt Jan. 30, 1940 2,192,620 Radtke Mar. 5, 1940 2,218,164 Carpenter Oct. 15, 1940 2,2 30,5e3 Garms retal. Feb. 4, 1941 2,280,000 1Millajr et al. Apr. 14, 1942 2,461,088 Sh ortt. Feb. 8, 1949 1950 2, 5c 18o"'/ I-Iubbell Mar. 14. 

